Podcast
Questions and Answers
The Harappans believed in burying precious things with the dead.
The Harappans believed in burying precious things with the dead.
False (B)
What material was found near the skull of a male in the Harappa cemetery?
What material was found near the skull of a male in the Harappa cemetery?
What is the name given to objects used for daily activities?
What is the name given to objects used for daily activities?
Utilitarian
Faience is a material made from ground ______ or silica, mixed with color, a gum, and then fired.
Faience is a material made from ground ______ or silica, mixed with color, a gum, and then fired.
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Match the following artifacts with their categories:
Match the following artifacts with their categories:
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The Harappans were known to hunt animals for food based on the evidence of animal bones found at their sites.
The Harappans were known to hunt animals for food based on the evidence of animal bones found at their sites.
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What is the most unique feature of the Harappan civilization?
What is the most unique feature of the Harappan civilization?
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What is Mohenjodaro?
What is Mohenjodaro?
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The settlement of Mohenjodaro is divided into two sections: the ______ and the Lower Town.
The settlement of Mohenjodaro is divided into two sections: the ______ and the Lower Town.
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Match the Harappan features with their descriptions:
Match the Harappan features with their descriptions:
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What evidence suggests that planning and a standardized system were used in constructing the Harappan settlements?
What evidence suggests that planning and a standardized system were used in constructing the Harappan settlements?
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The Harappans used metal tools for harvesting crops.
The Harappans used metal tools for harvesting crops.
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What is the most likely reason for the layout of streets and drains in the Lower Town of Mohenjodaro?
What is the most likely reason for the layout of streets and drains in the Lower Town of Mohenjodaro?
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The courtyard in many Harappan homes likely served as the center of activities such as ______ and weaving, particularly during hot and dry weather.
The courtyard in many Harappan homes likely served as the center of activities such as ______ and weaving, particularly during hot and dry weather.
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All houses in Mohenjodaro had windows at ground level.
All houses in Mohenjodaro had windows at ground level.
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What indicates the potential existence of social differences among the Harappans?
What indicates the potential existence of social differences among the Harappans?
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What are some of the strategies archaeologists use to understand social and economic differences within ancient cultures?
What are some of the strategies archaeologists use to understand social and economic differences within ancient cultures?
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The Harappans likely used ______ set in wooden handles for harvesting crops.
The Harappans likely used ______ set in wooden handles for harvesting crops.
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The Citadel in Mohenjodaro was not walled, signifying its open access to the Lower Town.
The Citadel in Mohenjodaro was not walled, signifying its open access to the Lower Town.
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What is the significance of finding terracotta models of the plough at Cholistan and Banawali?
What is the significance of finding terracotta models of the plough at Cholistan and Banawali?
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What time span does the Harappan Civilisation cover?
What time span does the Harappan Civilisation cover?
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The Late Harappan phase lasted from 1900 BCE to 1300 BCE.
The Late Harappan phase lasted from 1900 BCE to 1300 BCE.
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What type of pottery is distinctive of the Harappan Civilisation?
What type of pottery is distinctive of the Harappan Civilisation?
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The urban phase of the Harappan Civilisation is termed as ________.
The urban phase of the Harappan Civilisation is termed as ________.
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Match the following artefacts with their types:
Match the following artefacts with their types:
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Which of the following crops were NOT commonly found at Harappan sites?
Which of the following crops were NOT commonly found at Harappan sites?
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Animal bones found at Harappan sites predominantly belonged to wild species.
Animal bones found at Harappan sites predominantly belonged to wild species.
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What evidence do archaeo-botanists study to reconstruct dietary practices of the Harappans?
What evidence do archaeo-botanists study to reconstruct dietary practices of the Harappans?
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Study Notes
Harappan Civilization Overview
- Also known as the Indus Valley Civilization
- Spanning from 6000 BCE to 1300 BCE
- Divided into three phases: Early Harappan (6000 BCE-2600 BCE), Mature Harappan (2600 BCE-1900 BCE), and Late Harappan (1900 BCE-1300 BCE)
- Mature Harappan phase was the most prosperous
- Archaeological discoveries found in Afghanistan, Baluchistan, Sind, Punjab (Pakistan) and Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra (India)
Harappan Culture - Early Stages
- Several archaeological cultures existed before the Mature Harappan
- These earlier cultures exhibited evidence of agriculture, pastoralism, and crafts
- Settlements were small, without large buildings
Harappan Culture - Lifestyle and Diet
- Subsistence strategies similar in Early and Mature Harappan cultures
- Diet included plants (wheat, barley, lentil, chickpea, sesame, millets, rice) and animals (cattle, sheep, goat, buffalo, pig, wild boar, deer, gharial, fish, fowl)
- Evidence of agriculture is indicated by grain, but actual practices are hard to reconstruct
- Oxen were possibly used for ploughing (based on seals and terracotta plough models)
- Two crops could have been grown together at certain sites
- Tools for harvesting were possibly stone or metal blades
Harappan Culture - Urban Planning
- Development of urban centers, exemplified by Mohenjo-daro
- Mohenjo-daro consisted of two sections (Citadel and Lower Town)
- Structures were constructed on mud brick platforms
- Standardized bricks had a ratio of length:breadth:height of 4:2:1
- Well-planned drainage systems existed (grid pattern streets and drains)
- Houses were centred on courtyards with rooms on all sides, bathrooms, and wells
- Massive scale of labour mobilization is evident in foundation construction of platforms
Harappan Culture - Public Structures
- Evidence of structures for special public purposes (e.g., the warehouse and the Great Bath)
- The Great Bath was a large, rectangular tank that was watertight
- It was probably used for ritual bathing
Harappan Culture - Social Differentiation
- Social differences possibly indicated by variations in burials (some lined with bricks)
- Pottery and ornaments were found in some graves, possibly signifying a belief in an afterlife
- Jewellery was found in graves of both men and women
- Burials generally laid in pits
- Objects of daily use (utilitarian) were distributed across settlements
- Rare, costly, or intricately made objects (luxuries) were considered precious (e.g., faience pots)
Harappan Culture - Irrigation Practices
- Harappan sites were in semi-arid lands, potentially requiring irrigation
- Evidence of canals found in Shortughai (Afghanistan), but not in Punjab or Sind
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Description
Explore the fascinating history of the Harappan Civilization, also known as the Indus Valley Civilization, which thrived from 6000 BCE to 1300 BCE. This quiz covers the various phases of Harappan culture, including archaeological discoveries and lifestyle aspects. Test your knowledge on this ancient society and its contributions to early human civilization.
